KERRVILLE, Texas - The Austin College women's basketball team led by as many as 19 points but had to hold off a late push from Schreiner in a 71-67 road victory on Friday night. The win is the 11th straight for the 'Roos, making their record 13-4 overall and 6-0 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play.
Bryce Frank posted a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead the way for Austin College, and Kacie West came off the bench to pump in 15. Austin College struggled to get any offense going early, falling behind 11-7 and then 15-9 in the opening quarter. West and Addison Walling each knocked down a three pointer to pull the 'Roos within two at 17-15, and the quarter would end with Schreiner on top 18-15.
A bucket by Frank gave Austin College its first lead of the game at 19-18 with 8:57 left in the second quarter, and a triple from Caitlyn Collins made it a 24-21 game with 5:29 on the clock. West knocked down another three to make it 30-25, and Austin College would go into the locker room leading 34-27 after a pair of free throws by West to close out the half. West scored 10 of her 15 points before halftime.
Austin College opened the second half with a 6-0 run to take a 40-27 lead, and a three and then a layup by Meghan Lewis gave Austin College its largest lead at 51-32 with 4:33 left in the third. The 'Roos maintained a double-digit lead over the next few minutes, but Schreiner's Danielle Cain hit a pair of threes in the final minute of action to pull the Mountaineers to within nine at 56-47 heading into the fourth.
Schreiner quickly pulled to within two at 58-56 with 7:25 left in the game, but Frank scored the next six points for Austin College to keep the Mountaineers at bay and make the score 64-60 in favor of the 'Roos. Schreiner would once again battle back, and Kendall Dyal's three with 2:32 squared things at 66 apiece. However, Ally Longaker scored to put Austin College back on top, and the 'Roos closed the game with a 5-1 run to hang on for the win.
Frank hit 10-of-19 shots on her way to 24 points and added four assists and two steals. West hit 3-of-6 from long distance, and Longaker finished with 10 points and seven boards. Collins chipped in 10 points, and Lewis and Walling each handed out five assists. Walling added three blocked shots and Lewis had three steals.
Jordyn Villa paced the Mountaineers with 24 points as the only Schreiner player in double-digits, adding six rebounds and three assists. Dyal added nine points for the Mountaineers.
The 6-0 conference start is Austin College's best since joining the SCAC in the 2006-07 season, and the 11-game winning streak is the longest for program since the 'Roos won 15 in a row in 1996-97. The 'Roos take on nationally ranked Trinity on Saturday night, with both teams holding unbeaten records in conference play heading into their showdown in San Antonio at 6:00 p.m.